Met will “intervene appropriately” with protesters after Soubry abuse

The Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor has issued a statement saying “Officers in the area [Parliament] have been briefed to intervene appropriately where they hear or see breaches of the law”.

It comes after more than 50 MPs called on Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick to improve their response to abusive protesters outside Parliament. The MPs cited “serious concerns” regarding the “deteriorating public order and security situation” around Parliament.

Laurence Taylor said “Police continue to assess if any crimes have been committed following a third party report of a public order offence on Monday, 7 January, in the area of College Green, SW1. If a crime has been committed the matter will be fully investigated.

“There has been no arrest at this stage.

“An ongoing policing operation at the Parliamentary estate around Brexit continues and we have an appropriate policing plan in place. Our role is to facilitate peaceful protest and balance the needs and rights of all those present, including protestors, MPs and members of the public”.

The cross-party group of at least 55 MPs who have signed the letter said many of the concerns had been “repeatedly raised” with officers and senior policing staff. The letter was signed by MPs who are both for and against Brexit/

“We write to express our serious concerns about the deteriorating public order and security situation in and around the exterior of the Parliamentary estate including College Green,” the letter read. It was coordinated by Labour MP Stephen Doughty.

Labour Peer Andrew Adonis also wrote to the Met Police Commissioner, warning that the “tragedy” of Jo Cox’s murder in 2016 “must not be repeated”.

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